Indigenous Languages and Linguistics, at First Nations University of Canada

03/31/2025

06/27/2024

We are thrilled and grateful to share the news that our own Professor Emeritus, Solomon Ratt, has been named as a Member of the Order of Canada for his lifelong dedication to his language, nîhithawîwin. mistahi kimamihcihinân, salamô!

“The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad. As we progress towards an Order that is reflective of Canada’s full diversity, I encourage all Canadians to nominate individuals who inspire them, from all walks of life and backgrounds. Congratulations to the new appointees and thank you to the nominators who cast a spotlight on their achievement, purpose and exceptional talent.”

is honoured to announce the appointment of 1 Companion, 16 Officers, 2 Honorary Officers, and 64 Members to the .

To learn more about the outstanding contributions of these individuals, visit: https://www.gg.ca/en/order-canada-appointees-june-2024

04/29/2024

Remote and evening opportunity for a Dene Language Sessional

The First Nations University of Canada relies on section 48 of The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code to give preference in employment for this position; therefore, please indicate your status on the cover letter.

04/14/2024

We are very pleased to share with you all that, today, the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards committee in Regina presented Dr. Jean Okimâsis with a Lifetime Achievement Award for all her work and dedication to Cree language education, beginning with her work in the Department of Indigenous Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at SIFC, and beyond. It was a wonderful ceremony, at which she was presented with a Starblanket Quilt (see photo).

We are grateful to all who spoke to the organizing committee and contributed to the wonderful tribute video: Solomon Ratt (her former student and our longtime colleague and friend), Debra Murray (Jean otânisa; omisa otânisiyiwa), Sophie Carteri (Jean ôsisima) , Arden Ogg (our friend and colleague of many years and director of the Cree Literacy Network), Karen Clark (our friend in the publishing world, for many years championing Indigenous Language books at the U of R Press), Louise Halfe (our dear friend, with whom Jean has worked on editing the Cree content in her poetry), Tawny Maxie (a former student of Jean's and now a veteran Cree instructor herself), Lori Campbell (another former student of Jean's and Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Engagement at the University of Regina), and Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, CEO at YWCA Regina.

The photos we are sharing here are:
1) Jean's portrait for the award;
2) and 3) two pictures of Jean with colleagues in her Cree language journey (1: from the 1980s with l-to-r: Jean, Solomon, Emily Hunter, Darren Okemaysim, and Marjorie (Memnook) White; 2: from the 1990s Cree Language Retention Committee, back row; Laura Burnouf, Edie Hyggen, Minnie Mckenzie, Jean; front row Eleanor Hegland, Solomon Ratt, and Arok Wolvengrey);
4) a photo from the awards ceremony (with l-to-r: Solomon, Sophie Martine, Louise Halfe, Arok, Jean, and Debra);
5) the Star Quilt that Jean was gifted.

10/23/2023

Indigenous Languages at First Nations University and the University of Regina Press are pleased to host the book launch for the most recent volume of Our Own Words, as well as the series as a whole. This Thursday, 3:30-5:00 in the multipurpose room of the Regina campus of First Nations University.

10/03/2023

We are excited to announce the publication of the 3rd volume in the Our Own Words series of Indigenous Language texts produced through the University of Regina Press. This volume is a reprint of the landmark book, kôhkominawak otâcimowiniwâwa, first published over 30 years ago. This edition in particular pays tribute to the monumental life work of the late Dr. Freda Ahenakew. Official announcement of the book launch at First Nations University of Regina Campus on Tuesday, October 17 will be forthcoming.

The 25th anniversary of a historically significant collection, presented in Cree and English.kôhkominawak otâcimowiniwâwa / Our Grandmothers’ Lives is a collection of reminiscences and personal ...

09/07/2023

Federated Co-operatives Limited have made a generous donation for the support of Indigenous Language teaching materials for the Dakota and Dene languages, as part of the U of R Press and First Nations University's language teaching textbook series.

https://www.ckom.com/2023/09/07/donation-made-to-university-of-regina-to-preserve-indigenous-languages/ #:~:text=Federated%20Co%2Doperatives%20Limited%20(FCL,Dakota%20and%20Dene%20language%20courses.

04/24/2023

Today, at First Nations University, a very important announcement was made concerning provincial funding of three new scholarship streams for students of Indigenous Languages:

1. First Nations Language Instructor Certificate Scholarship;
2. Indigenous Language Revitalization Entrance Scholarship;
3. The Solomon Ratt Indigenous Language and Language Literacy Scholarship.

The latter is named in honour of long-serving and recently retired professor of Cree language, Solomon Ratt.

You can read more about these scholarships and the announcement here:
https://creeliteracy.org/2023/04/24/new-indigenous-language-scholarships-at-fnuc/?fbclid=IwAR01iNMQXmXyUihryl3nfw-WuJvOvgDnMubU7SRimkbbsonmrrIEeersEnw

New Indigenous language scholarships were announced today at First Nations University of Canada, that will help support up to forty language students per year, for years to come. The announcement o…

03/25/2023

Congratulations to FNuniv Faculty (past and present) and their colleagues on twelve 2023 Saskatchewan Book Award Nominations on a total of five books:

Solomon Ratt (Indigenous Languages), âhkami-nêhiyawêtân / Let’s Keep Speaking Cree, U of R Press for Publishing in Education

Belinda Daniels and Andrea Custer (Indigenous Languages), nêhiyawêtân kîkinâhk / Speaking Cree in the Home, U of R Press for Publishing in Education.

three nominations each for:
Jean Okimāsis and Arok Wolvengrey (Indigenous Languages), editors of kayās nōhcīn / I Come From A Long Time Back by wēpanākit / Mary Louise Rockthunder, U of R Press for Awards in Indigenous Peoples’ Publishing, Publishing in Education, and Publishing.

Alberta-Rose Bear and Kathleen O’Reilly (Indigenous Education), nimosôm anima--nimihšōmihš ta-minciwēnciman: Grandfather’s Reminder, Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing for Awards in Indigenous Peoples’ Publishing, Indigenous Peoples’ Writing, and Publishing in Education.

and four nominations for:
Čeǵá K’iŋna Nakóda Oyáde (Carry the Kettle Nakoda First Nation) with Jim Tanner, David R. Miller (Indigenous Studies, emeritus), Tracey Tanner, and Peggy Martin Mcguire, Owóknage: The Story of Carry the Kettle Nakoda First Nation, U of R Press for Awards in Indigenous Peoples’ Publishing, Non-Fiction, Publishing, and Scholarly Writing.

(see the full list of nominations here:https://www.bookawards.sk.ca/images/news/2023/2023-SBA-Embargoed-Shortlist-Authors-Publishers.pdf )

02/06/2023

Congratulations to Vincent Collette, a former colleague of ours here in the Indigenous Languages program, and to all of the Nakoda community on the publication of the new "Concise Dictionary of Nakoda (Assiniboine)". This work was accomplished with the invaluable aid of the late Wilma Kennedy of Carry the Kettle.

A Concise Dictionary of Nakoda (Assiniboine) brings to life the hopes and dreams of Nakoda (Assiniboine) elders. The Nakoda language—also known as Assinibo...

02/03/2023

The Cree immersion camp coordinator competition closes on Monday, February 6th, 2023, with interviews to be scheduled shortly after.

First Nations University of Canada provides an opportunity for students of all nations to learn in an environment of First Nations cultures and values. The University continues to uphold its mission of enhancing the quality of life, and to preserve, protect and interpret the history, language, cultu...

01/27/2023

Congratulations to Solomon Ratt on the publication of (a portion of) his Memoirs:
kâ-pî-isi-kiskisiyân / The Way I Remember.
mistahi kimamihcihinân, salamô!

https://uofrpress.ca/Books/K/ka-pi-isi-kiskisiyan-The-Way-I-Remember